The Agritourism Potential For Rural Development Tourism Essay

The Agri touristry Potential For step forwardlandish education Tourism Essay victimisation is critical and internal to the sustenance and breakth of any nation. The main tendency of each and every solid ground is to reach all overall victimisation of the domain. The stipulation findment encompasses the request and the means by which to nominate better lives for muckle in a country. It complicates non only scotch growth, although that is crucial, but withal human groomment providing health, nutrition, education, and a clean environment. However, in executing develop is a complex issue and the basal opinion of it is equates companionship with stinting growth. fit to the draw off together Nations Development Programme (2009) education is to lead require and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to piss access to the re stemmas needed for a the right way regulation of living and to be able to p deviceicipate in the demeanor-time of the community of int erests.Gboyega (2003) captures ontogenesis as an idea that embodies all attempts to correct the conditions of human origination in all ramifications. It implies improvement in material sound cosmos of all citizens, not the nearly powerful and rich alone, in a sustainable way such that todays consumption does not imperil the future, it to a fault demands that poverty and inequality of access to the good things of demeanor be remote or drastically reduced. It seeks to improve personal physical security and livelihoods and magnification of life chances.Thus, instruction aims at improving important aspects of lots lives such as livelihood, security, environmental, physical and mental strong being. Enhance in knowledge, fuck off and resources is helped spate to build a better life.The goal of victimization is to expand the capabilities of quite a little to live the lives they choose to lead (Amartya Sen 1999). It is or so appropriately defined with their diligent con junction. Development is different from growth. It has coarseer and deeper meanings. Economic growth is necessary but not ample condition for victimisation and hence it stomach be visual senseed as a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The major dimensions of it include the like a shot of economic growth, banners of education, quality of housing, take of health, distribution of goods and run, and access to communication (World Bank, 2005).Ingredients for organic evolution and economic growth ar capital take a hopation, human resources, rude(a) resources, and technology/entrepreneurship. Capital fermentation is essential to invest in orbits with spunky economic output, saving capital, investing in infrastructure creates jobs at once and indirectly by attr transactioning investors. gentlemans gentleman resources ar a key to exploitation in any country. There is need to develop a mechanism to address lack of health facilities, lack of education, poverty, malnutrition, an d disease. Human resource phylogeny is important if mess atomic enactment 18 to make consumption of ICT for ripening. Natural resources argon crucial in phylogenesis. Development activities need to be harnessed more of their essential resources. It is imperative that they should improve farming techniques and develop better come ownership methods. Technology and entrepreneurship be important to create countries to improve the know-how and know-what. Openness to ideas is important if any miserliness is to develop. The formation of neighbourhoodal and inter home(a) blocks encourages technology and entrepreneurship.Development should be a sustainable semipermanent condition for humanitys multidimensional well-being. It has been clearly explained in the Rio Declaration, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil as Human beings argon at the center of dread for sustainable ripening. They be entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Sustainable development could probably be separate called equitable and reposed, meaning that, in order for development to continue indefinitely, it should balance the interests of different groups of people, within the corresponding generation and among generations, and do so at the same time in three major interrelated cooking stoves-economic, social, and environmental. Sustainable development is approximately equity, defined as equality of opportunities for well-being, as well as almostwhat comprehensiveness of objectives. non all the countries in the world befool same direct of development. While developed countries pay back reached higher take of development or standard of living due to better standards in their societies, developing countries have faced several issues and challenges along their way towards development. Developed countries be countries whose lives are patterned sedulousness and have some i tem characteristics alike(p) higher direct of average per capita income, level of education, life expectancy of the commonwealth and also measly level of commonwealth growth rate and cobblers last rate. Life style is found on the market economy and economic activities are mostly related with industry celestial sphere as well as export oriented. Furthermore, majority of the population lives in cities and in that respect is comparatively higher level of health of the population. Countries that have Human Development index number (HDI) of 0.788 or over are in the category of developed countries. According to the IMF index of HDI released in 2011, in that respect are 47 countries in the abstract quartile and classified as causeing a Very high human development.On the other hand several common negative characteristics piece of tail be seen among developing countries as well. These are preventing the development of those countries. Low levels of living are manifested qualita tively and quantitatively in form of low incomes, inadequate housing, poor health, limited or no education, high infant mortality, low life and work expectancy, and in legion(predicate) cases, a general sense of disquietude and hopelessness are some of them. Moreover, low levels of productivity in many champaigns like labour productivity, farming or farm productivity. In addition, low level of industrial development, high un utilisation, small domestic market, small measuring rod of disposable income and uneven regional development, problems in institutional changes in land tenure, credit and banking structures, honest and cost-efficient administrations and the restructuring of educational and training. Most of the developing countries possess high population growth potential characterized by high stock rate and high but declining death rate.Rural development in developing countriesRural development is an integral part of the national development of a country. Rural developm ent actions are mainly and mostly to development aim for the social and economic development of the boorish areas (Chigbu, 2012). Especially in developing countries, very high emphasis has been given to country-bred development, aiming to apply equitable and balance development through and throughout the country. Rural Development which is pertain with economic growth and social justice, improvement in the living standard of the coarse people by providing adequate and quality social go and minimum basic demand becomes essential. The present strategy of campestral development mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programs of wage and self- avocation.Rural development generally refers to the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely live areas (Malcolm, 2003). Although cracker-barrel devel opment has traditionally centered on the exploitation of land-intensive natural resources such as cultivation and forestry, due to changes in global achievement ne tworks and join ond urbanization have changed the character of boorish areas. Increasingly tourism, ecological niche manufacturers, and recreation have replaced resource extraction and agriculture as dominant economic drivers (Neil and David, 2009). The need for countryfied communities to approach development from a wider perspective has created more focus on a broad range of development goals rather than merely creating incentive for uncouth or resource based businesses. Education, entrepreneurship, physical infrastructure, and social infrastructure all play an important place in developing awkward regions (Conn, 1996). Rural development is also characterized by its emphasis on topical anaestheticly produced economic development strategies (Malcolm, 2003).Furthermore, unpolished development aims at finding th e ways to improve the cracker-barrel lives with participation of the country-style people themselves so as to meet the required need of the verdant area. As such, general people themselves have to participate in their sustainable rural development. When rural development is concerned, in one point of view it open fire be explained as the development consists of a wide categorisation of spic-and-span activities such as the production of high quality and region specific products, nature conservation and landscape management, agritourism and the development of short turn in chains (Knickel Renting, 2000). These new activities in rural areas mean new income sources to topical anaesthetic people. Therefore it is believed that, doing diversification and utilizing multi-functionality of agriculture and formation of agritourism lavatory be utilize as a strategy to enhance rural development.Rural Development and national development in developing countriesIn developing countries, therural development is one of the most important factors for the growth of the national economy. Desai (2009) has put down Rural Development is an important segment of national development. Developing countries are primarily agriculture-based countries and majority of the population are in rural areas. farming contributes for a epochal share of the gross domestic product (gross domestic product) of those countries. farming, mining, forestry, handicrafts, fisheries, poultry, journal and rural tourism are the primary contributors to the rural business and economy of developing countries.However, in many developing countries sufficient amount of investment in rural area doesnt take place (United nation, 2011). The rural heavens is not able to contribute its full potential for the national development. For example, in the Asia-Pacific region in many cases presidential terms implement national development strategies, including fiscal and trade policies, which are biased against agriculture and the rural sector in general. These policies are seriously affecting the livelihoods and entrepreneurial development of small agricultural producers, the landless and other producers in rural areas (United nation, 2011). As a answer of the biased policies and budget allocations organisation institutions in most countries concerned have been unable to tellingly promote agriculture and rural development through the provision of timely and adequate social and production services in rural areas making lesser office for the national development (FAO, 2008)not only in Asia-Pacific this problem exists in other regions of the world as well. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean need to invest more and better in rural communities as their economic contribution to national development is twice as large as officially believed, according to a new World Bank report released recently. The report evaluates the effects of the rural sector on national growth, poverty reduction, and environmental degradation both in rural areas and the rest of the economy, as well as the public policies that fanny enhance its contribution to overall national development (Viveros and Morrison 2005). A film of Onyemelukwe (1981) on the assessment of the performances of the rural sector of the typical African country Nigeria in national development contexts has found out the critical billet of the sector and the system effects of inadequate equipment of the sector for such role. The Nigerian situation is used to illustrate the prospects and the problems of the rural sector in most African countries.Rural sector in Sri Lanka is mainly consisted of farming community. The agriculture sector is the cornerstone in Sri Lankas economy with more than 70% of the population living in rural areas dep cultivation on agriculture for their livelihoods. Currently this sector contributes to about 18% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 30% of the employment (Central bank of Sr i Lanka, 2011).Therefore, without taking into con positioningration agricultural development, we cant even approximate rural development in this country.What is Agritourism?In general, agriourism is the practice of attracting travelers or visitors to an area or areas used primarily for agricultural purposes. In particular, it refers to farm enterp tog ups and community events that showcase the activities and produce of rural families and the agricultural heritage of farming regions to travelers. Agritourism provides rural get a lines to travelers with the goal of generating revenues for farmers and surrounding communities. These experiences typically include a wide range of attractions and activities that take place in agricultural areas. Important ingredients of agritourisms rural experiences include open infinites, low levels of urban or industrial development, and opportunities for visitors to directly experience agricultural, pastoral, and natural environments.Moreover, agrit ourism is a type of rural tourism. It is a combination of two complex industries agriculture and tourism, to open up alternative income sources for the farmers as well as surrounding community (Wicks and Merrett, 2003). Brscic (2006) has explained agritourism as a special form of tourism which takes place within the family farm that symbolizes a specific form of business, giving a number of make headways to the families involved, with multiple impacts on the socio-economic relations and the space in rural areas. It is a form of farm diversification aiming some benefits from exiting farm resources. Agritourism can be also explained as an action mechanism, enterprise or business that combines primary elements and characteristics of agriculture and tourism and provides an experience for visitors that stimulates economic action mechanism and impacts both farm and community income.Relationship between agritourism and rural developmentseveral(prenominal) look findings in many develope d countries have shown that agritourism as a possible rural development strategy. For example, Haghiri and Okech (2011) discovered role of the agritourism in developing the economy of rural areas in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. According to Demirbas Topcu (2009), agritourism is a new element for rural development in Turkey. Agritourism as an effective vehicle for rural development in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan (Dernoi, 2002 weaver and Fennell, 1998). Study of Hightower (2011) recorded that Agritourism is being used as a gas pedal for additional income and triggering economic growth in rural areas. Disez, (1999) revealed that agritourism represents and innovative activity taking place within the framework of rural development in Massif Central region in France. In Romania, agritourism is the best way for the conservation of traditions and customs in the rural areas, turn ining a sustainable rural development (Mortan, 2006).In some countries like I taly, Spain, Greece, Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland and Norway it is a growing sector with the policies of the governments aiming to benefit from it as a regional development instrument (Demirta Topcu, 2007 Frater, 1983). Rural tourism provides many benefits to local areas by bringing visitors to the region, increasing ken for agricultural products and showcasing produce to the local and regional community. It can also provide incentives for local heritage and conservation groups to preserve unique heritage landscapes and make heritage. Most studies have highlighted the multiple benefits that agritourism brings to the farm, local communities, agriculture heritage and natural resources (Fleischer and Pizam, 1997 Busby and Rendle, 2000 Ventura and Milone, 2000 Sharpley, 2002 Wicks and Merrett, 2003 Hegarty and Przezbrska, 2005 Fleischer and Tchetchik, 2005 Mitchell and De Waal, 2009).Agritourism Re pursuit conducted in developing countriesA small number of look fores have been conducted in some developing countries in Asia. Mayasia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and India are examples of such countries. When South Asian countries are concerned, the number of interrogation is very hardly a(prenominal). India is the country leading in agritourism in this region.According to Tiraieyari and Hamzah (2011) in Malaysia, there are potential benefits of agritourism for farmers and local communities in general. It further indicated thatagritourism as an economic development instrument has great potential to contribute to rural development as Malaysia is one of the tourist countries with great potential to develop agritourism. As per the Council of Agriculture (COA) of Taiwan, after registering a decline of 1.9% of GDP in 2001, 173 arouses were established for tourism and this created huge impact in the development of rural areas of Taiwan such as chi-ching and Shwei-Li in Nantou County (Murangwa, 2010) A study on agritourism in Thail and notes that agritourism can utilize the agricultural holdings and products for the purpose of tourism such as panorama from paddy fields and vineyards, food and drink from agricultural products (vegetable, fruit, etc), souvenirs from local products (handicraft), and accommodations from bare(a) or vacated property to gain local development in area (Cynthiaord, 2012). As reported by the South East Asian regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in Manila Philippines, agritourism could be a nich tourism product that would help improve farm incomes provided a well-planned program is put in place. It will unify initiatives in agriculture and tourism sectors nationwide that contributed to poverty reduction, natural resources management, and rural development. (Aguiba, 2012)A research in Chitwan District in Nepal found out the importance of agritourism for the rural development in Nepal. Agritourism is the concept of diverting the tourists to those rur al areas, where there is range of agricultural activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people attract both internal as well as international tourists in order to generate extra income for their business. The living standard of the farmers and rural poor can be raised by identifying high value-low volume crops, which have comparative advantages and by optimally utilizing the available resources for sustainable development (Maharjan, 2008). However, the available literature evidence that our neighboring country India has sedulous in agritourism successfully. According to the research on Agritourism the potential for sustainable development and growth aiming to explore the scope for developing agritourism in India has been conducted by Raghunandan et al.,(2010). This research has concluded that there is potential for Agritourism in India to grow into an important source of income for the rural population if the development is focused on integration and partic ipation. Furthermore, Agritourism has been place as a source of generation of alternative income for farmers and local community, employment opportunities, reduction of gender bias and accelerate growth rate by Chadda and Bhakare (2010) based on their research on Socio-Economic Implications of Agritourism in India.Agritourism in Sri Lanka leaven on only one study related to agritourism and rural development of Sri Lanka was found as a result of the vigorous literature search during the study. One study is the research conducted by Senanayaka and Wimalaratna (2010) about agritourism and rural development in Sri Lanka with special reference to Nuwara Eliya District. They have found that the economic problems as well as development potentials remain in agricultural areas side by side in the country. Only a small divide of the vast rural agritourism resource base is being utilized by the industry now with little or no benefits to rural people. apply research work on agritourism will promote the sector with the participation of policy makers, rural communities and private investors on a sustainable appearance while trickling down a reasonable fraction of the benefits to the rural people. This would glow their agricultural livelihoods and improve their income and living standards.As per the literature review, agritourism in most of the countries has a short history and it is at the developing stage (Maumbe, 2012 Choo, 2012 Bernardo et al., 2007). Several countries have the research findings mainly based on preliminary research and pilot studies. Therefore, there is definitely a need for future research to verify the preliminary findings of these researches especially in developing countries. Moreover, several researchers have shown that agritourism has lots of strengths and opportunities for the improvement of rural areas and rural development. However, those researches have been conducted in specific condition which is unique to that particular country itself. Therefore, generalization of the findings to other countries is not so valid specially, for developing countries having lots of variations in geographical, political, socio-economical and environmental conditions. Not only the differences among the developing countries, there are several regional level differences even within a country. Furthermore, in a country, rural areas are different from each other. Thus, testing the level of contribution of agritourism for the rural development at provincial level is the best way to identify the corporeal potential of it. Since a very few number of research have been conducted at provincial level in developing countries, there is a need for lots of research of this kind. Even though in Sri Lanka there may be a potential in this regard, no sufficient research have been conducted in this field. Therefore, this kind of research is highly important. line of work statementSri Lanka is a developing country and there is a need to enhance the livin g condition of the people by developing the tot economy of the country. There is a gradual, but comparatively slow increase in GDP in the country for several years ( go through1.1).Figure 1.1 Improvement of the GDP from 2002 to 2012 in Sri Lanka blood Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2012Sri Lanka tourism has contributed to the growth of perfect economy for several years. However, due to exist cultured war during 2008-2009, tourism had being faced a declining trend. Along with ending the war in 2009, tourism industry restated to flourish and contribute for the national economy operatively. As a result, by now it is one of the main contributors of the national income of the country and expects to have further growth in future. The direct contribution of Travel Tourism to GDP in 2011 was LKR219.7bn (3.4% of GDP). This is forecast to rise by 5.6% to LKR232.0bn in 2012.This primarily reflects the economic activity generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). The direct contribution of travel tourism to GDP is expected to grow by 5.7% per annum to LKR402.4bn (3.4% of GDP) by 2022 (Figure 1.2).Figure 1.2 Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP from 2002 to 2022.Source World Travel and Tourism council, 2012Moreover, travel tourism generated 236,500 jobs directly in 2011 (3.0% of total employment) and this is forecast to grow by 0.2% in 2012 to 237,000 (3.0% of total employment). This includes employment by hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). It also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists. By 2022, travel tourism will account for 293,000 jobs directly, an increase of 2.2% per annum over the next ten years (Figure 1.3).Figure1.3 Travel and tourisms contribution to employment opportunities from 2011 to 2022Source World Travel and Tou rism council, 2012Rural sector performs a significant contribution for the national development in the country. About 70 percentage of Sri Lankas population lives in its rural areas. In rural areas, main sectors that are helping for rural development are agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, art and craft and rural tourism. Among these sectors, the most important one is agriculture. A large number of people in the rural sector engaged mainly in agriculture and allied activities.Agriculture sector can generate regionally equitable economic growth, rural livelihood improvement, and food security through efficient production of commodities for consumption for agro-based industries. Since agriculture sector has multi-functionality, it can link with other sectors like tourism and form new opportunities for local and regional development. Considering the experience of other developing countries in Asia, it can be assumed that there will be a potential for agritourism for the rural de velopment in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study will answer the question does agritourism represent a significant and viable rural development tool in Sri Lanka?1.3 Objectives of the studyThe broad objective of this research is to explore the potential of agritourism for rural development in Sri Lanka with special reference to demand and supply issues. Specific objectives of this research areTo find out the current supply of agritourism in the country.To study the government policy interventions in tourism and agritourism sector of the country.To identify and assess the visitors needs and satisfaction of agritourism of the country.To find out the local residents military position towards impacts of agritourism economic and contribution of agritourism for rural development.To find out the government officials attitude towards impact of agritourism to the rural development in the country and also national and provincial level support to the development of agritourism as a sector of rur al development.To cheer ways and strategies to development of agritourism in Sri Lanka as a sector of rural development.1.4 Conceptual FrameworkThe aim of this research is to study the agritourism and its contribution for the rural development in the country. The main stakeholders of agritourism are agritourism providers, visitors, local residents and the government. Figure1.4 shows the relationship of the stakeholder in agritourism and how agritourism links with rural development.Agritourism providers supply the agritourism. They can be farmers, private sector companies or organizations. Agritourism supply can be conducted by adding tourism activities to the animated farm and arranging facilities for the visitors to come to the farm, see those activities and get some knowledge about them, spend leisure time at the farm. In supply agritourism three things are important. Things to see (farm animals, fruits, vegetables, Herbal plants) activities to do (feeding animals, milking cows, harvesting crops, go up trees, picking fruits, threshing paddy) and farm products to buy (yogurts, curds, fruits, vegetable, jam jelly).Visitors can be local or foreign people those who are ready to buy the agritourism services. They make demand for agritourism. They come to visit the farm to see things, get a rest, enjoy farm activities and sometimes study on farming, Farm stay for few days, visit surrounding villages, buy local art and craft items, see cultural shows perform by local people and pay for the farm goods and services they consumed. In this way agritourism provider can earn extra income and other returns from agritourism which is the main aim of providing agritourism. Improvement of the level of income and living standard of the agritourism providers (especially farmers) is the main aspects of agritourism business. opposite important point regarding agritourism is the comportment of other tourism attractions in the area. other(a) tourism attractions can act as a motivational factor for visiting the agritourism operation. Moreover, proper government interference through correct rules and regulations are essential to operate the agritourism industry smoothly.Also, on the way, visitors can buy local products of nearby local residents, can visit other interesting places in the village like ghostly places, cultural sites, national parks, forests, waterfalls, traditional festivals, folk games. In this way, visitors can move with local residents of the area. These interactions create economic, social-cultural and environmental that impacts for the rural development of the area. Furthermore, local residents can sell their products and labour to agritourism operation and earn some money. Enhancement of the level of income and living standard of local residents are the other aim of agritourism along the way to rural development.The other important factor is the government attitude towards agritourism and intervention to rural areas where agritouris m operations are available. Especially provincial and local level governments have responsibility to enhance the condition of the area up to a good stand making it suitable for conducting tourism activities. So that, provision of infrastructure facilities such as road system, transport facilities, water, electricity, telecommunication to the area have to be taken place. Not only that, banking facilities, pencil eraser and security, medical facilities for the area are also needed to be provided. In this way, provisions of infrastructure facilities directly help for the rural develop of the area.Other Tourism Attractions of the Area-Mass tourism-Ecotourism-Nature tourismAgritourismRural DevelopmentOther Sectors of Rural Development-Forestry,-Fisheries,-Mining,-Art and craft etc.National DevelopmentVisitors supplicate and Supply ofAgritourismLocal ResidenceGovernment Policy-National take-Provincial Level-Local LevelImpacts ofAgritourismAgritourism providers-Economic-Socio-cultural-En vironmentalLocal Residents-Economic-Socio-cultural-EnvironmentalAgritourism ProvidersPrivate Sector Medium and Large graduated table CompaniesLocalForeignFarmersFigure 1.4 Conceptual Framework of the Study1. 5 Scope and Limitations of the StudyThis study has covered important aspects such as the supply of agritourism (number of destinations, scale of operation, available facilities, number of visitors, length of stay etc). want for agritourism (demographic information of visitors, nature of their demand, visitors satisfaction towards agritourism, demand function) information of local residents (impacts of agritourism on them, their attitudes towards agritourism development) and policies related to agritourism development in the country. Agritourism is a business process. However, aspects like establishment, management, development, improvement, merchandise and promotion of the operations are beyond the scope of this study.There were few limitations in this research. This is a sma ll-scale research conducted at local level with four types of stakeholder operators, visitor, local residents and government officials within only few districts without the firm country. In terms of operators, some financial analysis like benefit cost ratio, IRR of agritourism etc., could not be done as they did not want to disclose financial information d